Acute psychiatric beds : distribution and staffing in NSW and ACT.

This study examined the availability and staffing of acute psychiatry beds in NSW and ACT. « Gazetted » acute psychiatry hospitals (which take compulsory admissions under mental health law) were polled directly for bed numbers, occupancy and staffing for the year 1990-1991.

The NSW Department of Health provided beds numbers for non-gazetted and private hospitals.

Acute « gazetted » beds averaged 13.2 per 100,000 population but ranged from 6.9 to 49.1 per 100,000 when cross-regional flows were considered. « Non-gazetted » beds raised the provision to 15.5 per 100,000 and private beds raised provision further to 24.5 per 100,000.

Inner metropolitan provision was higher than rural or provincial provision.

Nursing staffing of gazetted units was reasonably uniform, although smaller units had significantly more nurses per bed.